Masakadza hails Junaid's spell

Junaid Khan's opening spell in the second Test was described as "one of the best I have faced," by Zimbabwe's No.3 Hamilton Masakadza, who top-scored with 75 on the first day. Masakadza began his innings after only two deliveries had been bowled and faced 19 balls in Junaid's first seven overs. He said that spell had made tricky batting conditions more difficult.

"He [Junaid] was much harder to face today than he has been so far in the series," Masakadza said. "In the one-dayers, he actually bowled quite a few bad balls, which did not make him that difficult to face, and then in the first Test we knew what he was going to do. He took the ball away from the right-hander and we were prepared for that, even though it was still a challenge to actually face him. But today he was also getting the ball to come back in to us, which made it really tough."

Junaid made the batsmen play at 26 of his first 30 deliveries by ensuring they were in two minds about whether it would be safe to leave the ball. The first run he conceded was via an edge from Masakadza and then there was a a mis-hit from Sibanda. Only after he had bowled 29 balls was there a confident stroke played against him.

Masakadza said he and Sibanda could only hope to see Junaid off. "When you don't know what he is going to do, you have to make up your mind early about whether you're going to play or not. And if you decide not to, you have to hope it misses you," he said. Junaid found Masakadza's edge twice but neither proved too dangerous, and after the batsman had survived the tough period, he said that batting became easier.

Towards the end of the day, however, there was evidence that the afternoon session on day one might have been the best for batting. A few deliveries had already begun to keep low, notably the one from Abdur Rehman that bowled Elton Chigumbura. The crack outside the right-handers' off stump on the south end of the ground threatened to cause more problems.

Masakadza expected the pitch to deteriorate quickly from here on. "You can already see it starting to play up and by the afternoon of day two and early day three, it's going to be very difficult for batting."

For that reason, he though a first-innings score of over 250 will end up being "very good." Besides turn, the unpredictable bounce will also become a factor, which could make Junaid more dangerous the next time Zimbabwe bat, although he hoped the home bowlers would have their say first.

The pitch had only two-and-a-half days of preparation after the first Test ended on Saturday and both captains had expressed their concern over how it would hold up. If Masakadza is correct, it will not last for much longer.

What Junaid is really crying out for is an incisive and disciplined bowling partner. The only way to capitalise on all the pressure he creates is to makes sure the guy at the other end is keeping it up too. Junaid's wickets column doesn't do justice to how well he bowls; he just needs to operate in tandem with someone who will do the job at the other end. Let's get Irfan in as a permanent partner to him in Tests as well as ODIs

on September 11, 2013, 9:29 GMT

@vaseem.. i guess you didnt see the ODI series, Junaid played in all 3 ODIs and was expensive in 1st ODI.

on September 11, 2013, 6:14 GMT

Vaseem Siddiqui i think you must be sleeping because Junaid played all three one days against Zimbabawe

on September 11, 2013, 4:32 GMT

i think junaid is one of the best bowler in pakistan team. only problem in this team i see is haffeez idk y he is not dropped. we droped nasir jamshed after two tests even though he had more runs then haffiz still we drop him we should hav picked new debutant for this match..

thE_baCk_beNcHer
on September 11, 2013, 3:13 GMT

Junaid is improving very quickly. He is one for the future. His yesterday opening spell was Awesome. He moved the ball in both ways. Junaid You beauty !

Chaudry_Cricket
on September 10, 2013, 22:06 GMT

Junaid is a fantastic bowler (hope he performs even better against South Africa in October).

Mazakasda played a fantastic innings was really impressed with that knock, it was a real gutsy knock. He faced a dangerous spell from Junaid and managed to somehow see him of. Then once he got in he started to open up and never let Ajmal settle by straight away slog sweeping him. Well played mate.

on September 10, 2013, 21:33 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

on September 10, 2013, 21:32 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

Desihungama
on September 10, 2013, 20:14 GMT

Great great bowling by Junaid. He was clearly unplayable this morning. And yes, he is more suited to Test Cricket than the shorter format.

keptalittlelow
on September 10, 2013, 20:00 GMT

If Masakadza is correct then Zimbabwe should win quite easily after scoring 250 plus on this pitch, we know all about the brittleness in Pakistan batting. ICC must take notice of the pitch though.

wrenx
on September 11, 2013, 15:50 GMT

What Junaid is really crying out for is an incisive and disciplined bowling partner. The only way to capitalise on all the pressure he creates is to makes sure the guy at the other end is keeping it up too. Junaid's wickets column doesn't do justice to how well he bowls; he just needs to operate in tandem with someone who will do the job at the other end. Let's get Irfan in as a permanent partner to him in Tests as well as ODIs

on September 11, 2013, 9:29 GMT

@vaseem.. i guess you didnt see the ODI series, Junaid played in all 3 ODIs and was expensive in 1st ODI.

on September 11, 2013, 6:14 GMT

Vaseem Siddiqui i think you must be sleeping because Junaid played all three one days against Zimbabawe

on September 11, 2013, 4:32 GMT

i think junaid is one of the best bowler in pakistan team. only problem in this team i see is haffeez idk y he is not dropped. we droped nasir jamshed after two tests even though he had more runs then haffiz still we drop him we should hav picked new debutant for this match..

thE_baCk_beNcHer
on September 11, 2013, 3:13 GMT

Junaid is improving very quickly. He is one for the future. His yesterday opening spell was Awesome. He moved the ball in both ways. Junaid You beauty !

Chaudry_Cricket
on September 10, 2013, 22:06 GMT

Junaid is a fantastic bowler (hope he performs even better against South Africa in October).

Mazakasda played a fantastic innings was really impressed with that knock, it was a real gutsy knock. He faced a dangerous spell from Junaid and managed to somehow see him of. Then once he got in he started to open up and never let Ajmal settle by straight away slog sweeping him. Well played mate.

on September 10, 2013, 21:33 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

on September 10, 2013, 21:32 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

Desihungama
on September 10, 2013, 20:14 GMT

Great great bowling by Junaid. He was clearly unplayable this morning. And yes, he is more suited to Test Cricket than the shorter format.

keptalittlelow
on September 10, 2013, 20:00 GMT

If Masakadza is correct then Zimbabwe should win quite easily after scoring 250 plus on this pitch, we know all about the brittleness in Pakistan batting. ICC must take notice of the pitch though.

on September 10, 2013, 18:29 GMT

I always believed that he is a better test bowler than a limited overs bowler. He gets into his own in the longer version.

on September 10, 2013, 17:34 GMT

A quick learner! Junaid Khan!

No featured comments at the moment.

on September 10, 2013, 17:34 GMT

A quick learner! Junaid Khan!

on September 10, 2013, 18:29 GMT

I always believed that he is a better test bowler than a limited overs bowler. He gets into his own in the longer version.

keptalittlelow
on September 10, 2013, 20:00 GMT

If Masakadza is correct then Zimbabwe should win quite easily after scoring 250 plus on this pitch, we know all about the brittleness in Pakistan batting. ICC must take notice of the pitch though.

Desihungama
on September 10, 2013, 20:14 GMT

Great great bowling by Junaid. He was clearly unplayable this morning. And yes, he is more suited to Test Cricket than the shorter format.

on September 10, 2013, 21:32 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

on September 10, 2013, 21:33 GMT

I dont think Junaid played in any ODIs? What is Masakadza talking about?

Chaudry_Cricket
on September 10, 2013, 22:06 GMT

Junaid is a fantastic bowler (hope he performs even better against South Africa in October).

Mazakasda played a fantastic innings was really impressed with that knock, it was a real gutsy knock. He faced a dangerous spell from Junaid and managed to somehow see him of. Then once he got in he started to open up and never let Ajmal settle by straight away slog sweeping him. Well played mate.

thE_baCk_beNcHer
on September 11, 2013, 3:13 GMT

Junaid is improving very quickly. He is one for the future. His yesterday opening spell was Awesome. He moved the ball in both ways. Junaid You beauty !

on September 11, 2013, 4:32 GMT

i think junaid is one of the best bowler in pakistan team. only problem in this team i see is haffeez idk y he is not dropped. we droped nasir jamshed after two tests even though he had more runs then haffiz still we drop him we should hav picked new debutant for this match..

on September 11, 2013, 6:14 GMT

Vaseem Siddiqui i think you must be sleeping because Junaid played all three one days against Zimbabawe